2026 NFL Draft: Answering the Draft's Largest Questions with 5 Daring Predictions

[ad_1] One of many enjoyable issues in regards to the NFL Draft is that the potential outcomes are limitless. Sure, the expectation is that the Las Vegas Raiders will choose Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 total choose when the 2026 NFL Draft commences on Thursday.

After that, nevertheless, issues get fascinating. There’s no clear favourite of whom the New York Jets will take at No. 2. The potential touchdown spots for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson stay up within the air, as we do not know if there will be two quarterbacks taken within the first spherical.

The New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals additionally added some intrigue on Saturday, with Professional Bowl defensive deal with Dexter Lawrence going to the Queen Metropolis for the tenth total choose. With the commerce, the Giants are the one workforce on this 12 months's draft with two top-10 picks.

So, let's delve into 5 of the largest questions getting into the 2026 NFL Draft and reply every of them with a daring prediction.

5. Jets on the clock at No. 2: David Bailey, Arvell Reese … or a wild card? The New York Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn could be deciding which one of many draft's two greatest edge rusher prospects (Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Texas Tech’s David Bailey) they wish to take at No. 2. Reese, thought of among the best gamers out there on this 12 months’s draft, has higher measurable and extra upside. Bailey, in the meantime, is the extra polished product, totaling 14.5 sacks in his remaining season for the Purple Raiders.

However is there an opportunity that one other participant is within the combine for New York at No. 2?

Ohio State's Arvell Reese is extensively considered as one of many prime gamers within the 2026 NFL Draft. (Photograph by James Black/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)

The Jets canceled a pre-draft go to with Bailey at their facility this previous week, including some intrigue to their choice. That information led some NFL observers to surprise if New York had already made the choice to pick out the Texas Tech product as a result of it is aware of sufficient about him as an individual, or the Jets determined towards taking Bailey, due to this fact canceling the go to.

Positional worth is a consideration, with groups angling to pick out premium gamers early within the draft due to the wage they are going to command as prime picks in comparison with the worth of the highest gamers at their place.

Nevertheless, three of the highest six total gamers on this 12 months’s draft — working again Jeremiyah Love, linebacker Sonny Kinds and security Caleb Downs — are elite abilities at non-premium positions. Additional, historical past tells us that there’s a 50% hit price on first-round picks. And in the event you’re the dysfunctional Jets, who maintain the longest playoff drought within the league, you’re attempting to enhance these odds by taking the participant most definitely to have a productive NFL profession, irrespective of that place.

Prediction: The Jets stun everybody and take Downs at No. 2.

Downs is a transformational participant who can function a face of a franchise in a giant market like New York, creating connectivity in a constructing that wants a tradition improve. As a flexible security who can line up at a handful of various positions, Downs matches the "Massive Nickel" position groups covet being stuffed by gamers like Kyle Hamilton, Nick Emmanwori and Derwin James in a number of the greatest defenses within the league.

Additionally, the Jets have a number of different bites on the apple early within the draft to safe gamers from premium positions sooner or later. New York has 9 first and second-round picks over the following two years, together with three first-round picks in 2027. Meaning New York will be selective in how they use these picks at different positions, taking gamers with these picks or utilizing the alternatives in a commerce to acquire a premium participant to enhance their roster.

The Jets have already got a Professional Bowl working again, inserting the franchise tag on Breece Corridor earlier this offseason. Some NFL sources I spoke with take into account Like to be the very best participant within the draft, however that might be redundant for the Jets.

The subsequent most secure choose? Downs. So, Caleb, welcome to New York.

4. Is Chiefs GM Brett Veach right that we'll see a trade-heavy first spherical? The 2025 NFL Draft was memorably mild on trades. Coming into draft night time, no first-round choose had been moved, and there have been solely 4 trades involving a first-round choose on draft night time.

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs normal supervisor Brett Veach expects that quantity to be larger this 12 months.

"It ought to be an entertaining night time and there'll in all probability be a number of trades," Veach instructed reporters this previous week. "That’s what I believe a draft like this — once you don’t have two or three franchise quarterbacks and a Will Anderson Jr. or a Myles Garrett — it does lend itself to speak in confidence to a number of enjoyable, a number of pleasure. I believe from a fan’s perspective, they need to have a number of enjoyable subsequent Thursday."

Might Alabama's Ty Simpson be on the heart of a commerce within the first spherical? (Photograph by CFP/Getty Photographs)

Veach pointed to an absence of premium gamers on the prime of this 12 months’s draft, together with premium gamers at offensive deal with, defensive finish and receiver being graded carefully, leaving groups transferring across the board to get in place to draft their man.

Additionally, six groups (Jets, Chiefs, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys) have two alternatives within the first spherical, giving them extra ammunition to make strikes. Six groups don't have any first-round alternatives, with the Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Inexperienced Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons all set to sit down out the festivities on Thursday … for now.

Prediction: There will probably be at the least eight draft-day trades within the first spherical. We can't predict all of them, however there's one which I believe will occur that I am going to share in a second.

3. Does an A.J. Brown commerce materialize? Does any veteran participant get moved? The Philadelphia Eagles are procuring A.J. Brown, with the Los Angeles Rams coming near consummating a commerce for his or her star extensive receiver that doubtlessly might have included transferring Davante Adams, in keeping with the workforce. The New England Patriots are additionally a primary vacation spot for Brown due to his relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel.

A number of the strikes Philadelphia has made this offseason have additionally seemingly signaled {that a} commerce involving Brown is on the horizon. The Eagles have traded for Inexperienced Bay Packers receiver Dontayvion Wicks and signed Marquise "Hollywood" Brown in free company, indicators they're making ready for all times with out Brown.

Nevertheless, one of many principal causes Brown stays with the Eagles is cap house. Philadelphia takes a $43.4 million lifeless cash wage cap hit in the event that they commerce Brown earlier than June 1. That lowers to only over $16 million if the Eagles transfer Brown after June 1, so Roseman is biding his time.

Brandon Aiyuk has been on the heart of commerce rumors for a number of months as his time with 49ers appears to be coming to an finish. (Photograph by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photographs)

There are a number of different veteran gamers who're commerce candidates this week. San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk, Colts defensive again Kenny Moore and quarterback Anthony Richardson are among the many group of notable vets who've been dangled in commerce rumors this offseason, however have remained put.

Los Angeles Chargers normal supervisor Joe Hortiz stated the workforce won't commerce receiver Quentin Johnston, whereas star defensive deal with Dexter Lawrence grew to become unavailable after the Giants agreed to ship him to the Bengals for the tenth choose in one of many greatest trades of the offseason.

So, will any of these gamers be a part of Lawrence in getting traded this week?

Prediction: No Brown commerce through the draft, however Aiyuk will probably be traded by the 49ers. The 49ers voided all of the ensures in Aiyuk’s contract after he refused to rehab his knee harm on the workforce’s facility final season.

Aiyuk desires to reunite with former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels in Washington. And with Commanders normal supervisor Adam Peters’ familiarity with Aiyuk from his time in San Francisco, it is sensible for Washington to commerce for Aiyuk now and get him into offseason work as an alternative of ready for his inevitable launch.

2. What number of receivers will probably be chosen within the first spherical? Whereas this draft class won't be deep at quarterback and lacks some star names, it is a good 12 months for extensive receiver-needy groups. FOX Sports activities NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang has seven receivers ranked within the prime 60 of his 150-player huge board.

Getting a top quality extensive receiver on a first-round rookie contract may also be the second-most worthwhile contract within the sport, behind a quarterback on a first-round rookie contract. The franchise tag of $27.3 million for receivers is No. 2 within the league behind quarterbacks, as that quantity has continued to develop in recent times. Groups at the moment are paying receivers like Alec Pierce almost $30 million yearly, taking on giant parts of their cap house.

So, in a draft that's quick on blue-chip prospects however loaded with proficient receivers with completely different ability units, it is sensible to seize a plug-and-play receiver now as an alternative of overpaying in free company.

Prediction: Seven receivers will probably be chosen within the first spherical, which might tie an NFL document of seven chosen within the 2004 draft. That was when the Arizona Cardinals took future Corridor of Famer Larry Fitzgerald with the third total choose. Perhaps Arizona can repeat historical past this 12 months?

1. The place will Ty Simpson land? Very similar to final 12 months, when Cam Ward was the consensus No. 1 choose and there have been some questions on whether or not a second quarterback can be taken within the first spherical, this 12 months it’s Mendoza at No. 1 and uncertainty if one other sign caller will probably be chosen among the many prime 32 picks.

But when one is taken, it will likely be Alabama’s Ty Simpson.

The Arizona Cardinals choose at No. 3 and had Simpson in for a go to this previous week. The Cardinals won't take Simpson at three, however might commerce again up on the finish of the primary spherical to get the fifth-year choice on Simpson.

Ty Simpson in Joel Klatt's prime 50 gamers 🏈 Arizona has not named a starter for the upcoming season. Final 12 months’s starter, Jacoby Brissett, will not be attending offseason work in hopes of securing extra assured cash because the frontrunner to begin this season. Simpson matches what new head coach Mike LaFleur desires to do on offense.